Latest News – The Horse
Truck Training
I recently had a difficult time trailering my horse to a show. While loading him, we had backed the trailer up to the barn, which resulted in a situation where he became afraid of the truck/trailer by the barn area. After returning from the
Legalities of Equine Rescue
Driving home one evening at dusk, you notice a horse standing listlessly in a small, fenced paddock on a farm located a few miles from your home. The horse looks quite thin, almost to the point of emaciation, and there is neither food nor water
Is Dietary Fat Really Healthy?
Marketing claims regarding the virtues of fat in equine diets are plentiful. Statements such as “Added dietary fat for improved performance,” “Increased stamina,” “Calm energy,” or “Improved coat and hoof condition” abound. Indeed, at times it i
Joint Disease Model
Horse owners are familiar with the devastating effects of osteoarthritis (OA) in performance horses. Methods to detect OA earlier, treat it more effectively, and slow its course are heavily researched. One problem, however, is the lack of an
Chronic Uterine Torsion in Mares
In late pregnancy, mares are susceptible to a dangerous complication called uterine torsion. Accounting for 5-10% of obstetrical emergencies, twisting of the uterus can be fatal to fetus and mare if left untreated. The hallmark of acute uterine
Foal Sex Selection
Sex selection of foals prior to conception is highly desirable for horse breeders. Currently, sperm can be sorted by their X and Y chromosomes, improving odds of sex selection through artificial insemination. Flow cytometry measures DNA in cells
Underrun Heels–Not So Innocent
Underrun heels sounds like an innocent term. Certainly it doesn’t strike fear into the hearts of horse owners in the same way as, say, navicular syndrome. It should. The disorder is so common today that many people fail to see it as an
Understanding Back Pain
There are many causes for back pain in horses, and they can range from the dramatic to the benign.
Things to be Thankful For
With fall comes Thanksgiving, followed quickly by Christmas, then the New Year starts us all over again. Where did 2002 go? Where have the past few years gone? In 1999, we were all worried about Y2K (haven’t heard that one in a while, huh?). Lat
WNV Vaccine Challenge Study
Research and development representatives from Fort Dodge Animal Health (FDAH) presented results from their challenge study of the West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine on Sept. 18. The information was presented at the World Organisation for Animal Healt
USDA Vaccine Licensing
Any company trying to put a new vaccine on the market must follow a specific process to obtain a license from the USDA before the product can be used in the horse population. A vaccine receives either a conditional or full license after a series
WNV Holds Up Australian Quarantine
The Australian Horse Industry Council congratulated quarantine authorities for their actions in the case of a horse which became sick during quarantine in Sydney and later was determined to have West Nile virus (WNV). Horse Council president Pau
Comfrey Targeted for Removal
Earlier this year, the Association of Animal Feed Control Officers (AAFCO, a non-profit organization of state and federal feed regulators that has no regulatory power, but helps guide national interpretation of feed laws) planned to select one o
Preakness Runner-Up Positive for WNV
Magic Weisner, the popular Thoroughbred gelding who finished second at long odds in the Preakness, was diagnosed Sept. 9 with West Nile virus (WNV), said Bob Vallance, DVM, the horse’s local veterinarian in Maryland.
Vallance was in daily
New Surgical Treatment for Suspensory Injury
Suspensory injuries are common in athletic horses. The suspensory ligament extends down the back of the lower leg from the knee or the hock and lies between the flexor tendons and the cannon bone. There are a number of treatments for injured
Hoof Project Foundation Will Fund Lameness Research
Combining scientific research with real-life case management is the mission of the new Hoof Project Foundation headed by David Hood, DVM, PhD. Noted for his research on hoof problems such as laminitis, Hood hopes to work with the horse-owning
